"Are you nervous?"
Jongin's head whipped up at Kyungsoo's question, and the insecurity was written all over his face in bold letters.
"Uhm. Not really, I mean. Just-"
"He'll faint if we don't watch out for him," Chanyeol threw in helpfully. Helpfully, because it caused Jongin to hiss a halfhearted ' you' at him, and to elaborate that it was natural to feel nervous around kids if you weren't used to them. So it served as a nice outlet for Jongin and a hint for Kyungsoo, who was quick to reassure Jongin.
"You will be fine. Kids will probably love your pushover attitude," he said in a blunt, but not hostile voice, "besides, Chanyeol made it work, too."
"Hey! You can't team up against me, that's not fair!" Chanyeol whined instantly, looking over at where Jongin shot Kyungsoo a shy smile.
"Don't be such a baby," Kyungsoo, who walked in the middle of the three, said in a placating manner, and Chanyeol pouted, just to make a point. They were already walking down the pathway to the city's orphanage, so Chanyeol was still sulking when they shrugged off their jackets in the entrance hall. The Secret Santa event -where various companies bought presents for selected orphanages around the four countries- had been a complete success. The past days had been extremely stressful for all of them, but now Christmas had come and gone by, and all they had to do was properly wrap up the promotions later. Keyword being later. Today was the second day of Christmas, and they had embarked on their own, personal Secret Santa mission to deliver presents to the orphanage Chanyeol had already visited with Kyungsoo before.

Kim Jongdae was still in charge, it seemed, accordingly dressed in an awful, yet charming woolen sweater and a nose that was painted red. Neither of the three asked him about it as they stepped out of their shoes and Jongin was already cornered by the first, nosy kid asking whether he was a Secret Santa with glittering eyes. Chanyeol almost yelped dramatically when a hand landed on his lower back, leading him after Jongin and Jongdae, who carried most of their bags. It was Kyungsoo, who now looked up at him with a neutral expression.
"Don't be so jealous," he said in a voice so quiet Chanyeol barely heard it, and then the hand was gone already as Kyungsoo wrestled a bag out of Jongdae's hands to assist him. Chanyeol felt an uncharacteristic blush creep up his cheeks as the ghost of the already fleeting touch seemed to linger and stirred something in his stomach. The memory of last week, where they'd been intimate for the first time, was still so clear on his mind. Sometimes, he felt almost painfully shy and unable to look at Kyungsoo, after doing something like... this. It had seemed like a really good idea back then, and he still wasn't regretting it. It was just the first time he'd ever done such a thing with a boy, and it would take him some time getting used to the idea. At the same time, he felt even more attached though. Kyungsoo had seen the less proper and accommodating side of Chanyeol, the one that demanded, instead of just offering. And he didn't seem very put off, maybe even quite the opposite?
"What's wrong with you, you wanna be our looming shadow, you big beanstalk?" Jongin asked half-moodily, half-anxiously, and Chanyeol graciously complied and caught up to them, giving Jongin a little security.

Chanyeol was actually a little giddy to meet all the kids of the orphanage again. On deeper consideration, he came to the conclusion that he was mostly giddy to see Kyungsoo being around kids, and to sort of see Jongin's reaction to this very different side of him. Was that silly? Maybe, but Chanyeol had no interest in sorting out the complexity of emotions that was currently reigning his mind. This was not the time for worries - it was Christmas, and they were seated around a comfortable table decked in an obviously old tablecloth made of green, shiny silk. Various plates of self-made cookies were spread out and all the children that were not occupied with their new presents, were currently seated around the table, waiting for Kyungsoo to shuffle the cards, eager for a repeat of their last session. Next to him, Jongin fidgeted.
"It's okay if you've never played before!" Chanyeol threw in, ready to scuffle to his feet. "I can help you during the first rounds-"
"If you help him, he'll probably lose," Kyungsoo cut him off with the hint of a teasing smile, "after all, you're just a newbie yourself. I'll play with him."
Chanyeol pouted again, though mostly for show. Even if he wasn't included, seeing Kyungsoo calmly guide Jongin through the game (who got evidently flustered whenever Kyungsoo leaned in close to get a look at his cards) was strangely rewarding.

"Good thing you didn't help me, cause I would've obviously never won a game. Are you sure you know the rules?"
Chanyeol stuck out his tongue in a childish manner that amused most of the present kids.
"I just had bad luck. Besides, why do you only pick on me? What about Sarah here? She lost as well-"
The girl a few seats down threw in an unhappy 'Hey!', but Chanyeol was already nodding at Kyungsoo, "-or Kyungsoo? He's not exactly giving us a stellar performance, either!"
Jongin looked like he'd just told him his fly had been open for the better part of the day. Next to him, Kyungsoo looked at the boy with the usual intensity that attention from Do Kyungsoo came with.
"You can make fun of me. I can take that."
Jongin looked like he was about to bolt, but with his fingers turning white around the cards, he stayed put, ultimately shaking his head viciously.
"I don't want to make fun of you though. There is nothing to laugh about," he admitted quietly, and with evidently burning cheeks that went blissfully misinterpreted by the children.
"Is that so..." Kyungsoo hummed, already plucking a card off the staple in the middle of the table. Jongin's eyes were glued to his own cards, and no more words left his lips.
"Gee, so there's plenty of stuff to laugh about when it comes to me. Mean," Chanyeol said light-heartedly, causing a few children to generously jump to his aid.
"I don't wanna laugh at you-"
"He's just joking, don't be sad!"
"Do you have a girlfriend?"
Chanyeol spluttered, but it was nothing against the way Jongin froze mid-turn, staring at him with wide eyes.
"What? W-what has that got to do with anything?" Chanyeol asked defensively, and the girl who had asked - she must be 10, at most - didn't seem fazed at all.
"Well, if you have a girlfriend, she can kiss it better, right? As long as she likes you, it's not important if other people laugh, right?"
Chanyeol blinked. His eyes flit over to Jongin, who still seemed on the verge of panic, and to Kyungsoo, who displayed his usual stoic demeanor, though his eyes were resting on him. Chanyeol grasped at straws and did what he did best - he smiled.
"Wah, aren't you jumping to conclusions, Missy!" he teased playfully, leaning towards her. "How do you know I have a girlfriend and not a boyfriend?"
That took the steam from the sassy girl, whose little hand immediately flew up to cover up her dumbfounded, open-mouthed expression.
"Oh. Do you have a boyfriend, instead?!" she asked, eyes wide as saucers.
The rest of the table became much more interested, too, and Chanyeol could see that not only Jongin was burning up. No, even pale Kyungsoo's cheeks were colored in the faintest, dusty pink. He flashed them a reassuring smile before turning back to the nosy kid with a sing-song voice.
"Wouldn't - you - like - to know?" he asked, poking her little button nose, which she took with a mewl of protest. Both Jongin and Kyungsoo exhaled in relief - one more visually so than the other. Chanyeol just grinned and wrestled with the girl's hands that were swatting at his.
"It's... a... secret!"

Today, as well, Chanyeol seemed to be the of all jokes. Funny how he the looks he got from the other two still managed to make him feel so admired at the same time.

"This was pretty exhausting," Jongin admitted many hours later, when they stepped onto the cold street. Chanyeol agreed with a vague hum, feeling quite ruffled and tired himself. Kyungsoo still seemed rather chipper - as chipper as Do Kyungsoo could get, that is.
"Your stamina is amazing," Jongin commented, his filter definitely chapped from exhaustion. Kyungsoo huffed out a quiet laugh and shot him a tiny, indulgent smile.
"That sounds mighty wrong."
Jongin squeaked out a weak 'what?', and before Kyungsoo could open his mouth, the Eastener had his heels to look for Chanyeol, who had stopped in his tracks, a few steps behind them.
"W-why did you stop walking?" he asked accusingly, walking back to Chanyeol and all but planting himself into his side, as close as his pride would allow. Chanyeol snapped out of his thoughts, only to see Jongin next to him, and Kyungsoo approaching with a mysterious smile.
"Huh?"
Jongin poked his side hard enough to make him feel it through the layers of clothing.
"Not 'huh?' - you wanna stay here, sleep on the curb today?" Jongin asked, and was he pushing himself closer?
Chanyeol shook his head and gathered his thoughts.
"No. No, of course not. I was just... remembering the last time I was here. With Kyungsoo."
He could see the emotions reflected in Jongin's eyes adjust quickly. The distracted, teasing spark immediately died down in favor of a slightly insecure, but attentive look.
"Oh really?"
He looked up at Kyungsoo's voice, to see the boy's gaze roam the area, just to rest back on him. Chanyeol cleared his throat.
"It's just. Right here, I apologized to him before. I've been such an idiot, dragging Soo into an orphanage, trying to prove, I don't even know, something. At the end of the day, I just prove that I'm an ignorant person," he concluded, laughing weakly. It was a little odd, saying this in front of Jongin, but this was about three people being in one relationship, as Kyungsoo had rightfully said. He was a little ashamed over admitting his past mistakes so openly, but instead of anger at Chanyeol's misbehavior, Jongin looked strangely thoughtful. Soft, even.
"Oh..." he said quietly, and something about him seemed to speak of regret - as if he regretted not having been a part of this. Chanyeol wondered whether Kyungsoo saw it, too, but he probably didn't.
"You've been an ignorant person who has the guts to apologize on the spot," Kyungsoo corrected him nonchalantly, with both hands buried in his simple jacket. "So don't beat yourself up about it. Except this is your way of reminiscing fondly. It was-" he began, actually hesitating for just a second before he obviously gave himself a push, "it was the first step. It's worth remembering."
Instead of delving into a long list of first steps between them, Chanyeol decided to actually take a step, and produced a nondescript little paper bag from his jacket.
"See, I was thinking," he started, ignoring Jongin's amused snort, "that we, too, deserve a Christmas present, don't you agree?"
Kyungsoo actually frowned at him, while Jongin flat-out groaned.
"No presents, Chanyeol! We had one rule. One! It was such a nice and uncomplicated one, too-"
"Hmhm, yeah. Well, now it's too late," Chanyeol said without an ounce of regret as he poured the content into his own palm. Three leather bracelets stood in stark contrast to his fair skin. Kyungsoo leaned in to get a closer look, while Jongin snatched one to scrutinize it. They really were simple - just a braided band of dark leather with a tiny, round stone embedded in the middle. It wasn't easy to see in the pale light of the streetlamps, but Chanyeol knew that Jongin was looking at the one with the black stone, while the ones remaining on his palm were of a pearly white and brown, reflective mineral each.
"Couple bracelets, huh?" Kyungsoo asked quietly, seeming objectively curious. Chanyeol masked his nervousness with a small smile.
"I thought it might be nice to have something connecting us. I don't know."
He remembered the amount of time he had spent in front of the little booth offering handmade leather accessories. Would it be too much? They were still in a test phase, right? Was it alright to take this tiny step, or would the others feel pressured?
In the end, Chanyeol had decided to go for it, and now he gently plucked the bracelet with the black stone out of Jongin's grasp.
"I just thought - hold this for a second?" he began, before handing the other two leather bands over to Jongin, "that they suit us pretty well. And they're rather unobtrusive, too."
He reached for Kyungsoo's right wrist, hoping that the tremble he felt wasn't all-too visible. Dragging up his sleeve, Chanyeol carefully put it around his wrist, fiddling a little with the adjustable fastener.
"I was thinking black for Soo..." he hummed, making sure that the bracelet was neither too tight or too loose.
"Because his eyes are so dark," Jongin said surprisingly. Chanyeol looked up with a fleeting grin.
"Exactly."
When he was content with the result, he blinked up to see those dark orbs trained on him. And though they might resemble a starless night sky, the emotions flickering in them were so intense and yet sprinkled with vulnerability, that it did funny things to him.
Kyungsoo his lips, and instead of saying anything, he took both of the bracelets from Jongin, examining them closely. Chanyeol's eyes were magically drawn to the dark ring that was now resting around his wrist like a mark.
He came to a conclusion and stretched out a hand, waiting for Jongin to offer his wrist. It took a second of confusion before Jongin hurried to comply, holding up his hand with his fingers restlessly going from digging into his palm to forcefully loosening up.
Chanyeol craned his neck to get a look at Kyungsoo's choice, seeing that he'd chosen the white one with a certain satisfaction.
"So mine is white," Jongin stated calmly.
"It will contrast nicely with your skin," Kyungsoo said without missing a beat. In reality, it was because in a certain way, Jongin symbolized someone really pure to Chanyeol, and he suspected that Kyungsoo knew that, even though words didn't come easy to him.
The way he fastened the accessory was deliberate and surprisingly tender. When he was done, both his hands and gaze lingered on the white stone a little longer, and Chanyeol wondered what he might currently feel. Jongin looked actually dazed by the simple, yet affectionate gesture, which was why he reacted so belatedly - Kyungsoo had already grasped Chanyeol's wrist when Jongin's hasty fingers reached for the last bracelet with a cut-off 'let me', causing it to fall to the ground. He quickly dove after it and when he re-emerged from his bent over position, the flush on his cheeks was visible even in the bad lighting. He made a point to dust the leather it off, bottom lip caught between his teeth. With a fond smile, Chanyeol easily offered his wrist. Jongin's fingertips were icy cold. Maybe that's why they tingled so much.
"My color has no meaning," he admitted with a small laugh masking the flurry of feelings that even the tiniest physical contact from Jongin brought. Kyungsoo tilted his head, watching closely how Jongin awkwardly fiddled with the fastener.
"But I think it does," he protested calmly.
Jongin didn't say a word until the bracelet was fastened, and while holding Chanyeol's hand with one of his, he tugged at the bracelet until the reflective brown stone was in the middle.
"Because you're shining," he said very quietly, unwilling to let go of Chanyeol's hand.
He wasn't sure what was going on, but if Jongin was enjoying this moment, Chanyeol would surely be the last to rip him out of it. He was surprised at the gesture, at the way the pads of his fingers rubbed Chanyeol's hand. Jongin claimed to like him, and while he knew it, feeling it was very different.
Jongin wasn't meeting either of their eyes as he carefully reached out to get a loose hold on Kyungsoo's wrist, as well, who let the other take the lead without a hitch. Jongin placed their hands together, waited until Chanyeol and Kyungsoo had laced their fingers, before he cupped their hands with his own. Keeping them together, shielding them from the cold.
For awhile, he held them, just like that, and Chanyeol had never seen him so content and peaceful. Then he placed his free hand around Jongin's shoulders, just as Kyungsoo decided to place his hand on top of Jongin's.

For the first time in forever, Chanyeol felt perfectly safe. Perfectly balanced. Everything felt right.
 

Can't talk much. Smart me took a job today that requires getting up at 4AM in the morning.
I still had to write this. If that's not a proof of dedication, then what is?
I might change this note later though~

Love y'all!
Sugar-and-Salt